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Life and Educational Labors 



EBENEZER BAILEY 



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SKETCH 



Li IV and E due alio luil Labors 



EBENEZER BALLET 



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R V. V IJ V> 1. 1 S H E D 

FROM BARNARD'S AMERICAN JOLMIXAL ()F FDCCATIOX. 

ISGl. 



This memoir was prepared at the request of the Editor for pviljlicatioii 
in tlie American Journal of Education. A few copies are [irinted in this 
form for the gratification of the friends and former [)U}nls oi' Mr. JJailcy. 

II. B. 
Hartford, Ocluher, ISGl. 



INTRODUCTION 



In compiling a brief sketch of the life ami labors of the late 
lamented Euexezer Bailey, the indulg-ence of his friends and of the 
[>ublic must be solicited for its many deficiencies and imperfections. 
So Innp- n period has elapsed since his death, -which took place, August 
oth, 18:19, that mnuy of those little incidents and traits of ch.aracter, 
which add so much to the interest of a biography, have necessarily 
laded from the memory of those who knew liim best. The death of 
his widow, some two years since, has moreover deprived his friends 
of the testimonv of one who could better than any other have sup- 
plied the ga|)s ifi his personal history. Then again, a large amount 
of material which had been collected and placed in the hands of the 
late Mr. Barnuni Field, for the purpose of preparing a memoir, was 
unfortunately destroyed after Mr. Field's decease. And his cor- 
resjiondence which was very extensive, and carefully preserved, being- 
most methodically arranged by his own hand, still referred so much 
to matters of a mere personal or local interest, as to furnish but very 
scanty data for a sketch of his life. A few family letters, a journal 
kept during a part of the year 1818, and some unfinished manuscripts 
on various scientific subjects, comprise all the material available for 
use. 

Pkovidexce, R. I., September, 18G1. 



MEMOIR. 



EuEXEZER Bailey, one of tlie founders of the American Institute 
of Insti'uction, was born in AVest Newbury, Massacliusetts, June '25tli, 
1795. His father, Paul iKiiley, with his niotlier and ancestors on both 
sides for many generations, were ;dl natives of that ancient and 
beautiful town on tlie shores of the Merrimac. His father possessed 
a small but well-cultivated farm, and by his industry and economy, 
like so many of our New England yeomanry, reared his family of 
four children to those habits of enterprise and intelligence which lead 
to usefulness and honor in after life. The youngest of these children, 
Ebenezer, most resembled his mother in disposition. To her he was 
deeply attached ; and her death, which took place soon after he 
graduated, he never ceased to deplore. Two of his own children in 
;ifter life bore successive!}', her loved and honored name, P^miria Carr. 

AVhy he was selected as the aspirant for college honors, is not 
known, unless it were from the love of learning, and love of books 
he very early manifested. Not that he was in any sense a hook- 
'worm in his boyish days; on the contrary, he was full of life and 
activity, the foremost to engage in every manly sport, and the leader 
in every venturesome expedition. He had a taste for mechanical 
contrivances and was ingenious in making little machines, and, so to 
speak, philosophical playthings. Even then his warm heart and gen- 
erous, kindly nature made him a general favorite, and some of those 
who wept at liis grave, dated tlie beginning of their friendship from 
these early days. 

The same enthusiastic love of nature, the same remarkable order 
and method, the same perfect neatness and propriety, the same regard 
for truth and honor which characterized him in after life, were con- 
spicuous in him as a boy. So true it is, — 

" The child 's the fatlicr of the man." 

lie entered Yale College, New Haven, in the year 1813, at the age 
of eighteen. His father provided liberally for his education, and his 
college course was alike honora'ole to himself and satisfactory to his 
friends. Although always ;i, close student, Ik^ was a favurite with his 



JO EUENKZER 15A1LEV. 

class, and many of his college frieiidsbips continued unbroken ihrough 
life. Indeed this was the peculiarity of the friendships which he had 
the rare gift of ins])iring — their warn:ith and devotion which neither 
time nor absence could quench, and which rendered them sti'ong and 
lasting as life itself. 

He graduated with honor, September 17th, 181 V. His views and 
prospects at this time, may be learned by the following extracts from 
a journal which he kept for a few years. 

"New Havex, Saturday, December 27th, 1817. 
"I left Newbury the first of September, accompanied by my father, 
for New Haven, with a determination to visit the Southern states in 
the capacity of an instructor after I had taken my degree. Accord- 
ingly after commencement, my father who has never refused me a 
competent supply of money, gave me at my request three hundred 
dollars. I thought this would be sufficient to pay my bills, and leave 
$150 to defray my expenses to the South. But as is generally the 
case with those who had rather see a trader use his pen than change 
a note, my debts were greater than I expected ; so that I had some- 
thing less than $70 left for my Southern expedition. But my father 
had gone home ; and with this sum I was to make my debut into the 
wide world of active life! 

Though I had lived at home but little since I was fifteen, and of 
course had been accustomed to associate and deal with strangers, 
still I was very little acquainted with the art of living. The 
generosity of my father had always hitherto supplied me with a 
quantum suj/icil of cash ; but now I began to suspect that to earn 
and to spend v.ere not quite the same thing. Neither was it alto- 
gether so easy and pleasant for one to hold his own purse strings — 
especially if there be nothing in it but a memorandum of debts! — as 
I used to fancy it when a boy. I well recollect that then, when a 
hint to my father, like a merchant's woid, would pass for more than 
it was worth — I engrossed in flaming capitals in my pocket book, — 

'(jOU LOVETIl THE CIIEEHFL'L GIVER,' 

but were I now to honor my red morocco vacuum, with a motto, it 
would be from Shakspeare ; "Who steals my purse, steals trash; — 
'tis something, nothing^ 

]3ut to return to my seventy dollars. A class-mate and paiticular 
friend, whose purse was not as long as his credit, needed fifty dollars 
to clear him out ; and I freely lent him the sum, on condition he 
should send it back by the next mail after he reached home. It so 
nappened that he did not return it for cujlit weeks. During this 



EBENEZEU BAILEY. H 

period I received several applications to go South, whicli I could not 
accept for want of funds to get there. And when, at last, my money 
did arrive, my expenses in the city had consumed it all into four or 
five dollars ! What measures to take in this extremity, I knew not. 
I was about two hundred miles from home, without experience in 
manao-ing, without money, witliout means of procuring any (unless 
hv writing homo, which my pride forbade) and I had almost said — 
without hope. I resolved and re-resolved till I found myself con- 
siderably in debt and not a cent in pocket. But conscious withal 

that 

' A poor spirit 

Is poorer than a poor pui'se,' 

I determined not to yield to circumstances, but if possible, to make 
circumstances yield to me." 

He then goes on to state that being unable to carry out his original 
plans, he concluded to purchase the good will and fixtures of a private 
school for boys recently established in New Haven. He found that 
he had been most grossly deceived in regard to the prospects and con- 
dition of the school, but by great energy, he brought it up to a good 
reputation, and the number of scholars rapidly increased. At the 
same time, he entered his name as student at law in the office of Hon. 
Seth r. Staples, intending to make that his profession. But he soon 
found this double burden too severe a strain even for his iron constitu- 
tion. At that time it was his habit to study till midnight, and rise at 
five in the morning to resume his labors ; and his health began to 
suffer from this unremitting toil day and night. So a favorable 
opportunity offering, he disposed of his school, abandoned forever the 
study of law, and engaged as tutor in Col. Carter's family at Sabine 
Hall, Richmond County, Virginia. 

It is curious in this swift-moving age, to trace his slow and tedious 
journey by stage and boat. Leaving New Haven, December 29th, 
1817, he did not reach Sabine Hall till the 12tli of the following 
month. Here he was received with true Virginian hospitality, and 
soon won the attachment of his pupils, and the respect and confidence 
of all with whom he was brought into contact. His position was 
peculiarly favorable for seeing Southern customs in their best aspects, 
and his year's residence in Virginia was always regarded by him as a 
pleasing episode in his life. Col. Carter numbered among his friends 
and family connections some of the oldest and most aristocratic 
families in the state. The plantation was very extensive, the house, 
of the old English style, was at once peculiar and picturesque, the 
grounds were spacious and handsome, the equipages, attendants, in 



12 EHENEZER BAILEY 

short, the \v])ole ostabHshineiit on the hxrgost and most liberal scale. 
The free and open hospitality of the society there impressed Mr. 
Bailey very favorably; and he was no less struck with the lack of 
that thrift and home comfort so dear to the heart of a New Eng- 
lander, which was often strangely blended with an almost princely 
magnificence. 

While in Virginia, he accompanied Col. Carter's family in their 
annual summer excursion to the mountains, and spent some time at 
Oakly, a seat in the northern Neck of Vii-ginia. His journal con- 
tains full and glowing descriptions of the various scenes he visited ; 
particularly of Harper's Ferry, and the other wonders of nature in 
that region, and of his visit to the birthplace and the grave of 
Washington. The journey was mostly performed on horseback, and 
gave rise to many amusing and exciting adventures. In the absence 
of inns, the party used generally to pass the night at the residences 
of their various friends on the route, often prolonging their stay to 
several days. In his remarks upon the ladies of a family thus visited, 
may be traced the germ of the conviction which he afterwards so 
strongly cherished and so triumphantly maintained in regard to the 
mental powers and capacities of woman. "These ladies," says he, 
"show by their e.xam pie, that the toilet ought not to engross the 
whole of a woman's life; that her mind is capable of higher and 
nobler attainments than to adjust a ribbon or display a gewgaw to 
the best advantage !" 

His remarks on the frivolity of life at the Springs show an unusual 
gravity and dignity of character for a young man of twenty-three. 
After indulging in a vein of humor and sportive satire on the various 
classes of pleasure-seekers there congregated, he adds, "For a per- 
son who considers life too short to perform the active duties incum- 
bent on man — who views all actions in reference to their ends, and 
receives pleasure from them in proportion to their utility, a watering- 
place has no charms ; and even the votaries of pleasure soon become 
satiated." 

Perhaps in the present excited state of the public mind, it may not 
be uninteresting to know how the subject of slavery was regarded in 
Virginia some forty years since; at least how it apj)cared to be 
regarded by one who had wide opportunities for observation, and who 
was certainly unprejudiced and dispassionate in liis judgment. The 
following paragraph seems almost prophetic. 

"Statesmen and politicians have already begun to discuss the most 
feasible plan for emancipating all the slaves in America. It is 
probable that a century will be too short a period to finish this great 



EBENEZER UAir.EV. -^3 

work ; but there is 110 subject wliicb so loudly aiul imperiously 
demands the attention of the American people as this. The people 
of the South begin to view slavery in its true light. Instead of a 
blessing, they regard it as a curse, entailed upon them by their 
ancestors, which it will require all their energies to do away. On this 
subject, I have heard but one voice in Virginia. A dark cloud lianrjK 
over the future destinies of tliis section of our couniri/, ivhichfew cat/ 
behold ivitliout trembling, and of wliich its inJiabitants arc falli/ 
aivarc.'''' 

Mr. Bailey remained a little more than a year in Virginia, when 
he returned to West Newbury, and afterwards went to Newburyport, 
Massachusetts, where he opened a private school for young ladies. 
There he formed many life-long ties, llis friendship with the Rev. 
John Pierpont, which death has hardly severed, there commenced ; — 
and there are many others wlio still recall with pleasure these early 
days sacred to glowing hopes, and true and honest hearts. There too, 
he was introduced to the fiimily of Mr. Allen Dodge, then a merchant 
of that town, who placed his daughters under his instruction; one of 
whom a few years later, became his wife. Iler brotlier, Hon. Allen 
W. Dodge, now of Hamilton, Mass., has cordially furnished a most 
faithful portraiture of his departed friend and brother, which will be 
introduced hereafter. 

Highly appreciated and successful in Newburyport; he yet I'egarded 
Boston as a wider and more congenial field of action; and in the 
year 1823, accepted with pleasure an appointment as head master of 
the Franklin Grammar School for boys in that city. This school had 
latterly fallen into a very low state of discipline, and the boys had 
almost held the reins in their own hands ; but a few firm but judicious 
cases of discipline at first, soon established the authority of their new 
master, who then easily won their love and confidence. The power 
of his influence over them may be illustrated from the foct, that 
being unavoidably detained from school one morning, he bent his 
steps thither late in the forenoon, almost dreading to encounter a 
scene of anarchy and confusion ; to liis surprise, however, he found 
the whole school in perfect order and busily engaged in the prepara- 
tion of their regular lessons, having elected two of the best scholars 
in their number, as teachers ^:)?-o tern. ! 

Early in the year 1825, he was married to Miss Adeline Dodge of 
Newburyport. Although very young, only eighteen, she possessed a 
mind of fine natural endowments, improved by a much more liberal 
course of education than was common at that day. A constant 
sufferer from ill-health through life, she was ever iho true svmpn- 



14, EnilNEZER BAILEY. 

tbizing wife, whose love and reverence for lier liushand knew m 
bounds. 

In the same year lie was unanimously pronounced the successful 
competitor for the Prize Ode to be delivered at the Boston Theatre 
on the anniversary of Washington's birthda}". A few extracts from 
tliis poem will show that he possessed poetic talent of no mean order. 
Many of the fugitive pieces from his pen that appeared in the jour- 
nals of the day, w-ere of marked beauty; and indeed, Griswold 
includes him among his "Poets of America.'' lie was several times 
appointed Post for the Anniversaries of the Phi Beta Kappa of his 
Alma Mater, an honor which, however, circumstances always prevented 
him from accepting. 

The Ode which is entitled "The Triumphs of Liberty," opens with 
an invocation to the Spirit of Fi'cedom, and then depicts her triumphs 
in the contests for liberty and independence in Greece, and on " the 
Andes' fronts of snow," which tlien claimed so large a share of the 
public sympathy and interest. He next turns to the oppressors and 
tyrants of the human race, and predicts their final overthrow. Then, 
by an easy transition, he invokes the spirit of Washington. The 
following passage commemorates Lafayette's visit to his tomb. 

" Say, ye just spirits of the good and brave. 
Were tears of holier feeling ever shed, 
O'er the proud marble of the regal dead. 

Than gushed at Vernon's rude and lonely grave ; 
When from your starry thrones, ye saw the son, 
He loved and hoxioveAJi^—weep for Washington." 

The following are the closing lines of the poem. — 

" As fade the rainbow hues of day, 
Earth's gorgeous pageants pass away, 
Tier temples, arches, monuments, must fall ; 
For Time's oblivious liand is on them all. 

The proudest kings must end their toil, 
To slumber with the humblest dead, — 

Earth's conquerors mingle with the soil, 
That groaned beneath their iron tread ; 
And all the trophies of their power and guilt. 
Sink to oblivion with the blood they spilt. 
But still the everlasting voice of Fame, 
. Shall swell in anthems to The Patriot's name, 
Who toiled — who lived — to bless mnnkinil — and iuirled 

Oppression from the throne, 
Wliere long she swayed, remorseless and alone. 

Her pcorpion sceptre o'er a shrinking world, 



EBENEZER IJAILEV. I5 

What though no sculptured marble guard his duf,t, 
Nor "laouldering urn " receive the hallowed trust. 
For him a prouder mausoleum towers 
Which Time but strengthens with his storms and showers. 

The land he saved, the empire of The Fkee, — 
Thy broad and steadfast tlirone, triumphant Liberty V 

In the latter part of this same year, the High School for Girls was 
established as an experiment, and Mr. Bailey was selected as its 
teacher. He entered on the duties of his office, November 15tli, 18'25, 
and soon infused his own enthusiasm and spirit into the school. The 
number of applicants for admission, was more than the limited 
accommodations provided could possibly contain. I>ut the jealousy 
of some of the members of the city government was early excited by 
the rapid strides of the school to popularity, and it was subjected to 
various petty annoyances, and worst of all to neglect, by those who 
should have cherished and fostered it. 

The mayor of the city, Hon. Josiah Quincy, in particular, had 
never been friendly to the school, and pronounced it an "entire failure" 
in a report which he presented regarding the Public Schools of Bos- 
ton. Though this report was published after Mr. Bailey's resigna- 
tion of his position as master of the High School, and when the 
pi'ivate school he had opened was in the full tide of success, still he 
felt called u[)on to vindicate the High School from such a charge. 
Jle accordingly wrote a "Review of the Mayor's Report," in which 
he set forth the facts with great power and vigor. This Review- 
attracted much attention at the time, and as it not only contains thy 
history of the High School for girls in Boston, but also presents some 
of Mr. Bailey's own views on the subject of education, it has been 
thought ad\isable to condense it, and append it to this article, where 
accordingly it will be found. 

The "Young Ladies' High School " established L)ecembei-, ISi'T, 
in roon:s taken in Spring Lane, may almost be said to have inaugura- 
ted a new era in female education. Here Mr. Bailey could give free 
sco]ie to the development of liis favorite and long-cherished ideas as 
to the wisdom and projiriety of extending the widest and most liberal 
eultui'e to the female mind. How successfully these ideas were carried 
out, how nobly maintained, how closely they appealed to the sj'mpa- 
tliies of the community, may be read in the history of this school. 
From the first it commanded a wide-spread patronage, and enjoyed a 
high reputation, not only in Boston and its vicinity, but in remote 
and distant quarters. It numbered among its members, those from 
the Soutli and West, from the British Provinces, as well as fi'om the 



IQ EBENEZER BAILEY. 

l;irg'er cities and towns of the East. Mr. Bailey was always extremely 
liberal in freely bestowing all the advantages of the school on those 
whose means would not allow them to acquire such an education as 
their talents merited. Beside many others he thus aided, he was 
for a long time in the habit of educating without charge, one of the 
graduates from each of the public schools for girls in Boston, leaving 
it to the masters to select the most deserving. An incalculable 
amount of good was thus done, and so kindly and delicately that none 
but the recipients knew the fact. 

All the arrangements of the school were on the most liberal scale. 
The rooms, ])articularly those at Phillips Place and the Masonic 
Temple, were spacious, and conveniently, not to say elegantly, 
furnished. It will be remembered that these points were not con- 
sidered so important thirty years since, as at the present day ; and 
Mr. Bailey may almost be regarded as much a pioneer in this respect, 
as in his views of female education. The convenient desks, the hand- 
some cases tilled with works of reference and of literature, the cabinets 
of shells and minerals, the extensive and valuable apparatus, most of 
it imported from Europe at great cost, were new features in most 
school-rooms of the day, and added not a little to the interest of the 
scholars. Then too, if there were a spot for liowers to grow, it was 
soon covered with bright and blooming plants, for he was not only 
enthusiastic in his love for tiowers, but was a successful cultivator of 
them. While every species of innocent amusement was not only 
allowed, but encouraged at the hour of recess; that once over, the 
most perfect order was enjoined and expected. 

Justice can hardly be done at this late day, to the various excel- 
lencies of the school ; to the order and precision combined with a 
rare spirit and enthusiasm ; to the thoroughness in every department, 
united with a wide spread culture, and acquaintance with general 
literature. The course of instruction was liberal, embracing the 
ancient and modern languages, and the exact sciences, and never 
neglecting the conimuii English branches. To carrj' out these objects, 
the best teachers of modern languages and modern accomplishments 
were obtained that could be procured, and in most cases their in- 
structions were given in classes, that met after the regular exercises 
of the school had closed. Besides these, an experienced and accom- 
plished preceptress, and an excellent corps of teachers trained under 
his own eye, were constantly employed. The aims and scope of the 
school may be inferred from his own words, in his annual catalogue. 
"I regard the discijiline of the mind and the acquisition of knowl- 
edge as the two ends of <diic;itii)ii. The priiicii)al object in a well- 



EBENEZER BAILEV. l^J 

regulated school, should not be to teach the pupils a (/reat m,any 
things, though this should not be neglected. But it should be to call 
into exercise the various intellectual powers, and to establish such 
habits of thought, as shall lead the learner to regard the work of 
education as only begun, when the days of school-discipline are 
finished." How well this idea was carried out, let those testify who 
still are reaping its benefits. Another prominent object of the school, 
was to fit young ladies for teachers ; indeed, he often recommended 
teaching for a few months as a proper finale, to those who were about 
to finish their school course. The young ladies, educated by Mr. 
Baile}', Avere eagerly sought for as teachers in academies, <fec., at the 
North, and as governesses at the South. His correspondence on this 
one point is of no inconsiderable amount, and he probably furnished 
hundreds of young ladies with situations as teachers. These still 
sought his advice, told him the difficulties of their new position, and 
losing him as a teacher, yet retained him as a fiiithful and valued 
friend. 

Visitors from every quarter were attracted to the school, though 
there was never any public exhibition or display of any kind. Other 
teachers often came, wlio noted down all the minutiae of plan and 
execution, and strove to catch the spirit of the place. To such, 
Mr. Bailey always freely gave his advice and aid, even when sought 
by those v.ho were about establishing similar schools in the same 
city, for he was far above the petty rivalry of little minds, and was 
generous in his friendship. Perhaps the secret of his success lay in 
the unbounded influence which he possessed over his scholars, and in 
the animus which fired the whole school. The master's eye was felt 
to be on each one of the whole number, and the utmost thorough- 
ness and precision attended each movement of the complicated 
machinery. How was this accomplished ? By a very simple method 
apparently. While the First Class in any particular branch, was 
under his especial charge, and each of the other classes had its ap- 
pointed teacher, often when least expected, he came into one of the 
subordinate classes, and there would be an exchange of teachers. 
Woe then to the delinquent class, and the delinquent scholar! In 
tears and trembling, they hear their sentence to review the whole 
ground again, or are sent into a lower class. But if they do well. 
how precious is the smile and word of praise which they win ! Never 
did he fail, in spite of cunningly devised plots and sly manceuvres, to 
appear before the class in Cicsar, as a guide over the j^'^'^s asinorum! 
If they stumbled or halted, they were compelled to retrace their steps 
to the beginning of the journey, and so gather strength fir flu' conflict ! 



2g EBENEZER BAILEY. 

The system of reviews was very comprehensive and tlioroiigh. 
Every book that was gone through with by a class, was reviewed to 
him ; she who could satisfactorily recite the long lessons assigned, 
could take another book; otherwise must go over the same ground 
with the next class. The Latin Grammar in particular was studied 
with almost unequaled thoroughness, and, in fact was never abandoned, 
while the study of Latin was continued. Every lesson and exercise 
was carefully marked, and merits were deducted for tardiness and 
misconduct. At the close of the term, a balance was struck; she 
who had the greatest number of merits, took the "first rank," and so 
on through the whole school. There was an immense amount of 
competition for these honors ; and as extra merits could be obtained 
for extra exercises, the contest sometimes became not only exciting, 
but almost injurious to health and strength. There was no ^:)?-/2e held 
out to these competitors, some of the "little girls" to be sure, wore 
medals while at the head of their classes, but these victors, like 
those in the Olympic games, contended for the honor of the victory 
alone. 

The reputation which the Young Ladies' Higli School enjoyed for 
excellence in reading^ and in compositions, may excuse a somewhat 
extended account of the means employed to bring about this profi- 
ciency. Perhaps the shortest explanation may be to say, that these 
classes were under Mr. Bailey's personal supervision, and thus put 
forth every effort to meet his expectations. Arranged solely in refer- 
ence to these two branches, without regard to any other, the poorest 
scholar in other respects, felt that here she might achieve a success. 
The reading was always in presence of the whole school, who were 
required to give their attention to it, and often to vote on the promo- 
tion of those they thought worthy of advancement. The reading- 
was remarkably distinct and natural, and free from every thing like 
"mouthing'' or affectation. Original compositions were required 
weekly, from each scholar, who was usually allowed to select her 
own subject. These compositions were most carefully corrected and 
criticised ; and when one appeared of unusual excellence, it was 
"recorded," that is, copied into a book kept for that purpose, and the 
writer, if in a lower class, was at once promoted to the first class. 
Thirty large quarto volumes Avere thus filled with essays, tales, poems, 
and even dramas, many of which Avere of high order. Three of the 
best readers in the school were selected by ballot, to read these com- 
positions, and this exercise Aveekly attracted a large and intelligent 
audience, drawn not from curiosity alone, but by the interest of the 
pieces, and by the excellence of the reading. 



EUENEZER BAILEY. 19 

I'erhaps tlie eyes of some may rest upon this page to whom tliis 
sketch, imperfect as it is, presents no vague abstraction. They can 
recall the kindling eye and glowing cheek of these youthful aspirants 
for knowledge; the// can tell of the untiring interest which never 
flagged in ascending her rugged steeps. No teacher ever held more 
absolute control over the hearts of his scholars, or ever had more 
entire confidence reposed in him, which was constantly manifesting 
itself in various ways. From the many expressions of love and 
friendship which he received from time to time, the conclusion of the 
farewell address of his pupils on his giving up the charge of the 
Young Ladies' High School, is selected as showing how they regarded 
him, 

" We are grieved that you deprive us of the advantage of your 
instruction. We are disappointed that you leave the sphere which 
has seemed so peculiarly your own. We should better love to see 
you continue to occupy the station for which you are so admirably 
qualified. We are sure that many, many voices from abroad will echo 
our sentiments ; that many amongst your former pupils, who have 
witnessed your faithful exertions in the cause of intellectual advance- 
ment, observe with feelings of regret, your abdication of the seat 
where vou have so long remained, surrounded by pleasant associa- 
tions and grateful remembrances. 

You go from us — how shall the mind know its home, when the 
genius that identified it, has departed ! We can not forget you ; but 
where you go, you will not be reminded of us by everything about 
you. May we ask you then to take this simjjle piece of plate, that 
the sight of it may bring before your mind's eye, those whom you 
now leave, whose kindest wishes for your happiness, whose deepest 
interest in your prosperity, will ever be with you." 

While Mr. Bailey's time and thoughts were chiefly occupied by the 
duties of his profession, yet he was by no means, the mere pedagogue. 
Ilis mind was comprehensive and far-reaching in its aims ; his indus- 
try, imtiring; and his public spirit led him to accept many positions 
which were no sinecures. In 1830, he was one of a committee to 
draft the constitution for the permanent organization of the American 
Institute of Instruction ;* and he held various oflices in that body, 
which iavolved a large amount of labor and correspondence. He 
was also appointed on committees to publish volumes of the Lectures 
delivered before the Institute, and to arrange the programmes of the 
meetings when held in Boston — which duties must have encroached 
considerably on his time. He was a member of the City Council of 

* See Barnai-d's '■'American Journal of Education," Vol. II.; p. 24. 



20 EUENEZEll BAILEV. 

Boston for several years; and was also a Director of the llouse of Re- 
formation, in which institution he always manifested a deep interest, 
and to promote the welfare of which, he labored faithfully and 
judiciously for many years. 

His literary productions during this period were important, and 
involved much time and labor. He was a frequent and welcome con- 
tributor to the columns of the '•'■Courier,^'' then edited by his friend 
Mr. Buckingham, and to several other j^apers and periodicals, lie 
was often called upon to deliver lectures before lyceums, and indeed 
was president of the Boston Lyceum and one of the directors of the 
Boston Mechanics' Institution. Several unfinished works on Geome- 
try, Astronomy and other scientific subjects, and copious Note-books, 
attest his industry. Besides these, he compiled in 1831, an excellent 
selection of reading lessons, well known for many years, as "TAc 
Young Ladies' Class Book.^'' This was followed by '■'•BakeweWs 
Fhilosojyhical Conversations,'" an English treatise on Philosophy, 
written in a familiar style, which he revised, and adapted for use in 
American schools. But the work which most bears his peculiar 
stamp as author, and by which he is best known, is '■'Baileijs Algebra," 
pubhshed first in 1833, and designed especially for the use of young- 
ladies — though it has also been extensively used as a text-book for 
boys. It was the first work on the science that pretended to be 
adapted to the wants of beginners, and its pojiularity was such, that 
it continued to be used in spite of the numerous and more modern 
treatises that were constantly issued from the press. So much so that 
its publishers have recently had it thoroughly revised and enlarged, in 
order to adapt it more fully to the wants of schools of the present 
day. 

It will be asked, "How was Mr. Bailey able to accomplish so 
much?" By simple, unremitting industry, and method in all his 
operations. He rose very early, sometimes at three and often at four 
o'clock, and studied before breakfast. Though very hospitable, he 
did not mingle much in general society. His pleasures were simple ; 
to cultivate his little garden, bowl for a few hours with some of his 
chosen friends, take a ride with his fomily in the beautiful environs 
of Boston, these he enjoyed keenly, and entered into with all his 
heart. His health was almost uniformly good ; he was never troubled 
with dyspepsia and headache, th^e banes of the school-room. And 
when even his strength and power of endurance flagged at the end 
of the year's work, a run into the country in the summer vacation, or 
a few weeks' gunning on the marshes of Cape Cod, would soon restore 
his wonted vigor. His massive frame, and uncommon stature, to- 



EBENEZKIi HAILEV. 21 

o-etlier with his somewhat peculiar style of dress, would at onco cause 
him to be singled out in a crowd. His features were decided and 
strongly mai-ked, and denoted power and force of character ; while 
his eye was expressive of a kind and tender nature. A hard worker 
while he worked, no one enjoyed more the hour of leisure, a pleasant 
talk with his friends, or a merry romp with his children. 

Thus happily and usefully the busy years fled on. Blessed with 
health and prosperity, almost idolized by his scholars, surrounded by 
a circle of true and noble hearted friends, men and women of talent 
and refinement, happy in his family and home — his cup of earthly 
blessings seemed indeed to be full and running over. But a change 
was near at hand; misfortune overtook him suddenly, and fi-om every 
quarter ; so that to use his own expressive words, it needed not the 
assurance of Holy Writ to convince him, "that man is born unto 
trouble, as the sparks fly upward." 

The crisis of 1837 is doubtless well remembered. Mr. Bailey suf- 
fered heavy losses in the general panic and pressure from the failure 
of those who owed him, to meet their engagements, and from the 
withdrawal of patronage from his school. At the same time, he was 
deprived of the income of his books, through the failure of his pub- 
lishers. His current expenses had always been great; for he had 
always spent freely so long as he had means, and had been generous 
almost to a fault ; and the crash found him with his resources crip- 
pled, and totally unprepared to meet the storm. 

In this emergency he acted promptly and decidedly. He at once 
broke up his establishment in Boston, disposing of every superfluous 
article, including even the greater part of his large and valuable 
library, and determined to relinquish his connection with the Young- 
Ladies' High School, and to open a private school for boys in the 
country. But his troubles had not reached their climax. The gen- 
tleman who purchased the good-will and fixtures of the school, died 
suddenly of brain fever, after the papers had been signed and before 
the first payment was made, leaving his estate utterly insolvent. Mr. 
Bailey was almost ruined by this event ; yet he was not crushed by 
it, as a weaker nature might have been. His warmest sympathy as a 
man and a Christian was at once excited for the family thus suddenly 
rendered desolate ; and he endeavored as much as possible to arrange 
matters for their benefit, and was never heard to utter a word of re- 
[iroach in reference to the whole matter. 

Having settled up his aftairs as well as possible, Mr. Bailey opened 
his school for boys in the follovt'ing summer at Roxbury, feeling that 
he was indeed a poor man and had the world to begin over again, but 



22 EBENEZER BAILEY. 

going to work with a brave heart and a cheerful spirit. The school 
was intended to be select and of a high character, and the number 
was limited to twenty, all of whom were engaged to enter at the 
time of his death. Should this sketch come to the notice of any of 
those who then had the privilege of being his pupils, they will 
readily recall the delightful relations subsisting between him and 
them. At once friend and teacher, they not only sought his counsel 
in their studies, but in all their sports and amusements. No expedi- 
tion was quite complete without his presence. They loved him as a 
fother, and their grief at his death was deep and uncontrollable. 

In the spring of 1839, he removed to Lynn, and rented the estate, 
then known as " Lynn Mineral Spring" — but now as the elegant seat 
of Hon. Richard Fay — " Linmere." In this charming spot, he seemed 
to breathe a freer life and air. The wild and romantic scenery on 
the shores of that beautiful pond, might well satisfy the most ardent 
lover of nature, while his tasteful hand found abundant and pleasing 
occupation in arranging tlie grounds, and bringing order out of con- 
fusion. Never had he seemed so perfectly happy, never did life seem 
to open such noble aims. He was content to live simply and to work 
hard, that he might thus be enabled to discharge every obligation he 
had incurred ; and a long, happy, and useful career seemed opening 
bright before him. But the end was drawing nigh. 

One sultry afternoon in mid-summer — Friday, July 26th, — coming 
hastily into the house, he stopped on a large nail with such force, that 
it ran its whole length through his boot into his foot. Entering the 
house, he drew it out with some efibrt, and handing it to his wife, 
said, "lay that away, there may be a sad tale to tell of it." It is a 
little singular that he had always had a peculiar dread, almost an in- 
stinctive horror of the lock-jaw. With this feeling, no time was lost 
in applying the proper remedies, and in consulting the best medical 
advice at hand. He also consulted Dr. Hayward of Boston, formerly 
his family physician, and nothing that could be done, was neglected ; 
though after a few days, the pain and inflammation had so much sub- 
sided, that it was hoped by his family that their apprehensions of 
danger were groundless. 

On Saturday, the ninth day after the accident, the summer vaca- 
tion commenced, and most of his scholars departed for home. He 
took leave of them pleasantly and cheerfully, giving each a kind 
word, and then sat at his desk the rest of the morning busily engaged 
in writing. It was afterwards found that he was occupied in airang- 
ing his papers, and leaving directions for the guidance of his family 
in case of his death. At dinner he appeared composed and calm 



EnENEZER BAILEY. 



23 



and cheerful as u^iiial, but it was noticed he did not eat. To the 
anxious inquiry as to the cause, he acknowledged, slowly and 
reluctantly, as if unwilling to give pain, that he did have " a sort of 
tightness about his jaws, but perhaps it was only fancy." Who can 
picture the horror and dismay of that moment ? A physician was 
immediately sent for, and powerful remedies applied. The hope was 
still cherished that he might escape, but in the night, he was seized 
with severe pain and stricture across his chest, and much against his 
will, his wife insisted on rousing the family and again sending for Dr. 
Peirson of Salem. He insisted on dressing and coming down stairs, 
"it seemed too much like being sick to stay up stairs." Almost 
always in vigorous health, he hardly knew the meaning of the word 
sich ; and now as he sat conversing on various interesting subjects, 
more thoughtful of others than of himself, it was hard for those 
around, to realize his danger ; but he did fully and completely. In 
the same composed way he met his physician, apologizing for the 
trouble he had put him to, in calling him up at midnight. It was 
afterwards told how calmly he had inquired into the probable effect 
of an amputation, and how with equal calmness he received the an- 
swer, "Too late." At three o'clock Sunday morning, only twenty- 
four hours before his death, he walked slowly up stairs with the 
assistance of his cane — never, alas ! to descend alive. 

The next day was a bright and beautiful Sabbath. Gay flowers 
were blooming, and sweet birds were singing, each noted in turn by 
the sick man. Powerful opiates had been administered to relieve the 
pain, but in vain. He was able, however, to swallow liquids through 
the day ; though when one of his little children anxiously asked him 
if his jaws had locked any more, he seemed to brace himself up and 
nerve himself to answer, "I think they are ; it comes on slow but 
rery sure." The most skillful physicians were summoned ; anxious 
friends and relatives gathered to the house of sorrow. To each, in 
the intervals of the paroxysms of pain which grew more and more 
severe, he addressed a kindly word, sending flowers to one, and mes- 
sages of affection to another. In the presence of his fomily he was 
calm, but in their absence, his anxiety for their fete, thus left alone in 
the world, was uncontrollable — " Oh God !" he cried, " what ^vUl 
become of my poor wife and children?" 

And so the weary day wore on. As the sun set, he seemed 
drowsy, it was difficult to rouse him to take his medicine. It Avas but 
the precursor of the last, long sleep. The disease mercifully went to 
the brain rather than to the spine, as had been feared, and there the 
strong man lay in an unconscious stupor, breatliing out his rich life 



24 EBENEZER BAILEY. 

in deep groans of agony. That ear wliicli had ever been open to the 
voice of suflering, was now deaf to the cries and entreaties of his 
loved ones to give them one last word, one last sign. The life was 
slowly ebbing from the stout, loving heart, — 

•' And when the sun in all his state, 

Illumed the eastern skies ; 
He passed through Glory's Morning gate, 

And walked in Paradise." 

Of Mr. Bailey's character as a man and as a teacher, others will be 
allowed to speak. As a husband and a father, who can tell his worth ? 
To that family of five young children, the memory of their dead 
father, of his wishes and hopes, of his words and instruction — has 
been as fVesh and binding, and more sacred than that of many a 
living parent. And in all the blessings of their after life, they have 
ever felt that their richest inheritance has been to call themselves his 
children. Ilis wife too, having lost the strong arm she had hitherto 
leaned upon, nobly discharged the double duty now devolving on her, 
and bent every energy and devoted all her strength to the task of 
reai'ing these children, as he would have them reared. 

His friends were deeply stirred by his death. During his long resi- 
dence in Boston, his uniform courtesy and dignity of bearing, and his 
kind and unaffected regard for the M'elfare of others, had won him 
many friends, from every walk in life. After the first shock of grief, 
these true friends began to inquire into the best way of showing their 
love and regard for the memory of him who was gone. And tliey 
most liberally and wisely decided to subscribe a sufficient sum to free 
the copy-rights of the books which he had published, from the en- 
cumbrances upon them, and thus secure a sure provision for the 
education of his children. 

Those who so long had sat under his watch-care and instruction, 
heard of his sudden and most unlooked for death with sorrow and dis- 
may. But one voice went up from among them, that of anguish, 
mingled with sympathy. The following lines, being a portion of a 
poem on his death by one of his pupils, may not be ina]>propriate or 
unacceptable ; — 

" Not I alone deplore thy hapless fate, 

Thou good and gifted, generous and great ! 

She, that sad mourner by thy silent bier, 

Shedding in speechless grief, the frequent tear; 

And they, whose names dwelt latest on thy tongue. 

O'er whom a father's shield of love was flung, — 

Their depth of woe His might alone can scan 

Whose eye beams love, whose voice " speaks peace " to man. 



EBENEZER BAILEY. 25 

Rest thee in peace ! tliou tired and trusty friend ! 

Shall we in hopeless grief around thee bend ? 

Oft have thy smiles the sorrowing heart made glad, 

Thy presence cheered the doubting and the sad. 

[n many a heart thy monument is reared, 

Whose grateful thoughts record thy name revered, 

Each princely deed though done in secrecy, 

Shall rise to heaven, and thy memorial be. 

Thy soul shall enter its immortal rest, — 

Home of the weary — guerdon of the blest !" 

Many obituaiy notices appeared in the papers of the day, from 
which tlie following is selected from the '■'■Sulcm Gazette,^'' August 
13th, 1839. What friend wrote it, is not known to his family. 

"So many tender and affecting recollections crowd upon the mind, 
in contemplating the sudden close of a life of such varied usefulness 
and excellence, that words utterly fail to express the overwhelming 
grief which has been brought into his own family, the deep sorrow 
which will be felt by so many other fEimilies of which he was the 
honored and beloved fiiend, or the strong feeling of sadness and 
sympathy which his death will occasion in the community of wdiich 
he was so long a valued citizen. 

Of Mr. Bailey's scientific and literary attainments — of his high 
reputation as an instructoi', of the untiring industry which led him to 
occupy the intervals of responsible and exhausting professional duty 
in the preparation of many valuable works in science and hterature, 
of the energy and fidelity with which for several years he discharged 
the duties of a member of the city government of Boston, of liis 
various usefulness in his relations to society, we have not time or in- 
clination now to speak. They are well known to that community of 
which he was so long a member. 

But it is of the virtues of his heart, it is of the qualities that make 
the true man, which he so eminently possessed, on which we would 
for a moment, dwell. 

Mr. Bailey had a noble soul, a soul which disdained everything 
mean and base, and which had an instinctive admiration for every- 
thing elevated and excellent, lie had a strong love of honesty and 
ti'uth. Sincerity and frankness characterized his whole intercourse 
with others. He carried his heart in his hand. He was not willing 
that anybody should take him for better or wiser than he actually 
was. He possessed an ardent temperament, but it was united with a 
spirit of feminine gentleness. He entered with zeal and animation 
into every scheme for the benefit of his fellow men, but he never gave 
way to any popular impulse, or thought any plan or project a useful 



26 



EBENEZER BAILEY. 



one simply because it happened to be fashionable. His constitutional 
ardor, liis benevolent feelings, his gentle temper, united with his 
vivacity and playful wit, rendered him the delight of the social circle. 
Benignity sat upon his countenance. He was liberal, almost to a 
fault. He never thought of himself, when he could serve another by 
self-forgetfulness or self-denial. He professed a firm belief in Unita- 
rian Christianity, and his practice attested the sincerity of his profes- 
sion. What he was, in short, as a husband, a father, a brother, and 
a friend, those best can tell, who feel that their loss in these relations, 
is irreparable. 

This may seem excessive eulogium to those who did not know the 
man. But it is the heart-felt tribute of one who was the friend of 
jiis youth, and who has watched with the interest of a friend, his on- 
ward career of goodness and usefulness. Its fidelity will be attested 
by the voice of that community of which he was a citizen, and by 
the thousands of young heai'ts who will tearfully acknowledge that 
they owe to him their highest intellectual attainments and the 
development of the best principles and feelings that make up their 
character.'' 

We are happy to be able to close this too imperfect sketch of so 
useful a life, by the testimony of three of his near and dear friends, 
each of whom was situated in circumstances peculiarly favorable, for 
forming a correct estimate of his character as seen from diflferent 
staud-points. 

The first is from his pastor and beloved friend, the Rev. John Pier- 
pont; who knew him long and well, under every varying circum- 
stance of life. He writes as follows, under the date of August 
14th, 1859. 

" When I say that Mr. Bailey was a member of my family si.K or 
seven years ; that in all that time, he had his seat at the table next 
to me, on my right hand ; that I thus " wintered him and summered 
him ;" that for a part, at least, of that time, some of my children 
were under his instruction ; and that I was a member of the School 
Committee all the time he was in the service of the city, first as mas- 
ter of the Franklin School, and afterwards as the first and only prin- 
cipal of the High School for girls, it may well be supposed that I 
had opportunities of acquiring some knowledge of his character. 

The routine of a public teacher's professional duties, presents but 
few salient points for his biographer. Yet I think that there is no 
vocation in society that affords a more trying field of labor, or a better 
one for gaining a knowledge of human nature, or for the improve- 
ment of the whole character of the individual, than that of a teacher 



EBENEZlii; liAILEY. 27 

of a large cominou school. And, taking into view his tidelity to his 
trust, his full acquaintance with the matters to be taught, his entire 
^c'lf-conirol under exciting circumstances, his perfect impartiahty in 
the administration of law, the facility, and the wonderful felicity with 
which he secured the attachment and unquahtied contidence of his 
[lupils, the invincible patience with which he treated either willfulness 
or dullness in the objects of his care ; the wisdom with which he 
adjusted discipline to character, when discipline must be administered, 
in one word, when I consider all the qualities that go to the making 
up of the perfect teacher, I think that Ebenezer Bailey was the 
nearest perfect teacher that I have ever known. More exciting to me 
than to witness a trial of two generous steeds, with all the blood of 
all the Morgans in their veins, was it to see, as I have seen, in the 
High School for girls, even in moments of " recess,'' two of those 
girls of fourteen or fifteen years of age, stand up side by side, before 
the great blackboard, and " merely for the fun of it," with the same 
algebraical problem in hand, race " neck and neck " down the board, 
to see which should reach the answer first ! No one, I think, could 
witness that spectacle "in play-time" without coming to the conclu- 
sion that the genius loci — the spirit that presided over that school, 
was not one that haunted every academic grove. 

And what was the consequence ? So popular did that school be- 
come, so strongly had it taken hold of the affections of the people 
while yet in its infancy, such a perfect furore had it excited at the 
time when the first class that entered it was to take leave of it, that, 
as was supposed, the jealousy of the aristocracy of the city was 
awakened — " tantune animis cailestibus ira /" — the knowledge that, 
at the public expense, the daughters of plebeians could secvu'e a higher 
education than those of the patricians could, at whatever cost, was 
fatal to the school itself. One High School for girls could not con- 
t.-.in all that were eager to press into it. Even could ten Master 
IJaileys be found, ten High Schools would not be sustained by those 
by whom the public burdens were principally borne, and because not 
enough could be done in this line, to meet the public demand, it was 
determined to do nothing at all ! The school was discontinued. The 
enterprise of a High School for girls in Boston became a failure by 
reason of its triumphant success ! 

I never recall the image of Mr. Bailey, but with a melancholy 
pleasure. Like Ossian's '•' memory of joys that are past," the 
thought of him is always pleasant, but mournful to the suul. In all 
the years during which we sat side by side at my table, 1 never saw 
in him a little thing. Large, generous, manly, in all his views and 



28 EBENEZER BAILEY. 

ways, Le always commanded my respect for him as a man, and my 
affection for him as a friend. During all that time, I think I may say 
with literal truth, never an unkind word passed between him and any 
one member of my family. He had a merry wit and knew how to 
give and take a "joke," but never gave or took oflense. We all 
loved him. We loved him after he left our family, and began to 
Duild up his own. We all felt, and deeply deplored his too early 
death. " Too early ?" — No. He " who doeth all things well " never 
sends Lis angel. Death, to call any one of his children home too 
early. 'The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart ; and 
merciful men are taken away, none considering that the I'ighteous are 
taken away from the evil to come.' " 

The following is from a lady, for several years associated with Mr. 
Bailey in the Young Ladies' High School, of rare talents, and known 
on both sides of the Atlantic for her philanthropic labors, and her 
literary efforts. Educated in England, and spending a great portion 
of her subsequent life on the continent, her views jwssess a double 
value, as being the conclusions of a large and libeial mind, and as 
also showing the strong and lasting influence exerted by Mr. Bailey 
over those with whom he was once brought in contact. Writing 
under the date of September 1st, 1859, she says : — 

"My mind is profoundly stirred by the information that a memoir 
of Mr. Bailey is about being prepared. No one will read it with a 
deeper interest than myself, for no one more truly appreciated his 
educational influence, or has been more greatly benefited by it. That 
wonderfully influential faculty was in him a thing apart and unlike 
any power of the kind I ever saw in another. It combined all the 
qualifications that go to make up the high military genius. It was 
at once exact and enthusiastic ; scientific and imaginative. Without 
ever having pronounced the words, ' Woman's Rights.'— Ae laid the 
foundations of the broadest and truest woman's rights, for New Eng- 
land. The contest he maintained with the mayor of Boston, in 
behalf of the daughters of Boston, and the manner in which he 
asserted their right to a high public instruction, did a work which 
will never die out in New England, but which will be communicated 
with unceasing power from age to age. 

I remember many of his judgments given in the spirit of an ob- 
server of the nicest qualifications both philosophical and physiologi- 
cal, and in the happiest popular manner. It was always his way to 
settle a question, rather than debate it. Of the comparative powers 
of girls and boys as students, of which he was so amply qualified to 
judge by his great experience in teaching both, he said, ' girls beat 



EBENEZEll UAlLi;V. qq 

boys of the same age, at tlie same literary and mathematical studies, 
but tliey cry over them more." This remark covers the whole ground 
of difference of organization. 

I should never be weary of telling of his unequaled method, by 
which, as a general reviewing and employing an army, he could deal 
with hundreds like one — of his inspiring sympathy, of his skill in 
imparting instruction, of his bounty in gratuitously bestowing it on 
the deserving. He knew of no infantine or feminine road to learn- 
ing, any more than a royal one; and that unconsciousness has been a 
blessing to thousands of the New England youth of both sexes, whom 
he knew how to stimulate and inspire with his own profound sense of 
realities, and hatred of pretence, cant, and sentimentalism. 

May tlie time soon come, when such men may look to the presi- 
dency of Harvard, Yale, and other kindred institutions, as the natural 
I'ewai'd of their educational labors and the natural field for ever- 
renewed exertions. Happy indeed, would be that literary insti- 
tution, that could secure the services of such a man as Ebenezer 
Bailey !" 

We will conclude with the letter before alluded to, of his brother- 
indaw, the Hon. Allen W. Dodge. This letter is dated March 27th, 
1861, and will be especially appreciated by those who know Mr. 
Dodge's cool, clear judgment and keenness of discernment. The 
analysis which he gives of Mr. Bailey's character and mental habits, 
is peculiarly valuable, and will be acknowledged by his friends to be 
a tribute to bis memory no less just, than grateful. 

"My first acquaintance with the late Ebenezer Bailey, commenced 
somewhere about the year 1820, when he was teaching in Newbury- 
[)ort. His success here was very flattering, and he soon received an 
appointment as head-master of the Franklin Grammar School, Bos- 
ton. He at once entered on his duties in this new position, and 
taught there with great and increasing success for several years. 
Afterwards he was appointed principal of the High School for giils 
in that city, an institution that owed its establishment mainly to his 
advocacy of it in the journals of the day. 

Under his management, the experiment — for it was the first 
attempt of the kind in New' England — became a success, and the 
daughters of the humblest citizen here received at the public expense, 
an education as thorough and as valuable, as could otherwise be ob- 
tained only at great cost, and by a favored few. But this did not 
avail to save the school from an untimely end ; indeed it was per- 
haps the chief cause of its destiuclion. Mr. Bailey always main- 
tained that this was accomplished by the influence of Josiah Quincy 



30 e6ENEZER BAII.EY. 

Sen., who was then mayor of Boston, and publicly proclaimed this 
conviction in a pamphlet of marked ability, in which he sharply re- 
viewed mayor Quincy's proceedings. 

On resigning his position as head master of the High School for 
girls, he immediately opened a private school for young ladies in 
Boston, To rehearse the history of the ' Young Ladies' High School,' 
would be to tell the early history of many of the finest minds that 
have graced our New England homes or adorned her literature, fur 
the last quarter of a century. But in schools as in every thing else, 
' the fashion thereof passeth away,' and this circumstance, together 
with the general stagnation of business during the great panic of 
1837, led him to quit the scene of his greenest laurels, and of so 
many pleasant associations, and to open a home boarding school for 
boys in a retired and romantic spot, then known as the 'Mineral 
Spring,' in Lynn, Massachusetts, 

The chief cause of this great change of life in Mr, Bailey, was the 
pecuniary embarrassments that had now oveilaken him. His school 
had been carried on in a style regardless of expense ; the best 
teacliers, the best equipments, the best of every thing needed for its 
success, were always procured, if possible. His own style of living 
too, had been on the most liberal scale; fur one of his means, he 
lived like a prince, not, however, for his own selfish enjoyment. Large 
and extravagant entertainments were positively distasteful to him, 
but his every-day hospitality was unbounded. His house, his table, 
his books, and his purse were always ojien to his friends, and no man 
had warmer or truer friends. So, finding himself unable to keep up 
the expense of a city home according to his ideal, he withdrew to the 
simpler life of the country. 

Hardly, however, had his new career opened before him, when Ikj 
was suddenly stricken down with that dreadful disease, the lockjaw. 
I was with him during the last sad days of his life. He knew the peril 
he was in and took all known precautions, under the best of medical 
advice and skill, to escape it. But all in vain — the strong man bowed 
before the fell destroyer. During the intervals of paroxysms of pain, 
he Avas calm, resigned, and even cheerful. On observing to him the 
mysterious nature of his disease, a mere incision of the nerves by a 
nail — and the whole system deranged, 'I was just thinking' he 
replied, 'of those beautiful lines of Dr. AVatts,' 

' Strange tiiat a Ijarp of a thousaud strings, 
Should keep in tune so long I' 

He then spoke of liis approaching death with the same calmness — 



EBENEZER BAILEY. 31 



spoke of it, and of liis linppy family so soon to be bereaved. Never 
was a tenderer husband and fatlier, and to leave his wife with sliattered 
health, those five little children needing more than a mother's care— 
thiH was the bitterest drop in his cup of agony— which absorbed all 
the rest. On assuring liim that I would endeavor to be to them a 
father and a protector, he grasped me firmly by the hand saying, 
' Then T can die in peace.' And so this friend of his race, this man 
of letters and of wisdom, this illustrious teacher of the youth of his 
time, passed away from earth ; but the good that he did, lives after 
him, and will yet live through many generations. 

To me his memory is as fresh as if were but yesterday he was 
here. His noble form, his commanding stature, his broad, manly 
chest; his strongly marked features, seem yet present before me. T 
hear his sonorous voice, his well-articulated words, his cheerful and 
contagious laugh, so hearty and spirit-stirring. I listen to the anec- 
dote he relates with such spirit and interest to illustrate some point in 
our conversation. I hear his clear and simple explanation of some 
scientific fact or law of nature. For the study of these, he had a 
great passion. Astronomy, chemistry, botany and the natural 
sciences generally, were known to him, not as a dry series of 
names and formulas, but as practical truths to be applied to every day 

life. 

As a scholar his learning was varied, extensive and thorough. 
Always a student, he scorned to pretend to knowledge which he did 
not possess. Least of all did he make a parade of his learning. In 
pure mathematics he was eminently an adept. x\s a poet, he held no 
mean rank, even in New England. His ear was quick to detect an 
error of rhythm, or a word mispronounced. His sense of grammatical 
construction was as unerring as an instinct. Indeed, if he had one 
favorite study more than another, it was philology. His library pos- 
sessed a rare and valuable collection of standard authorities on the 
use of language ; and his critical eye and taste filled the margins of 
the books he read with notes and queries. His literary taste was nice 
and discriminating, cultivated by long and patient discipline, and re- 
markably free from all ca])riciousness. His style of writing was clear 
and simple, yet always fresh and vigorous ; and had he devoted him- 
self to literature, he would have been as widely known as an author, 
as he now is as a teacher. In this respect, I can not speak of his 
character from personal knowledge. The illustrations of his success 
are to be found in the hundreds of young persons educated by him, 
and living witnesses of his power over the mind and the heart. I am 
persuaded that not one of these would fail to bear testimony to his 



32 EBENEZER BAILEY. 

faithful, devoted, and enthusiastic endeavors to promote their growth 
in knowledge and in virtue. 

But it is as a man and a friend, as a companion in social intercourse, 
that I would essay to present him to the teachers of the present day. 
I knew him intimately for twenty years; most of that time I was with 
him more or less, and for the remainder was in frequent correspond- 
ence with him. 1 never knew a man so uniformly cheerful, often 
under the most trying circumstances, so kind and attentive to the 
feelings and the happiness of others. Full of interesting knowledge, 
with a never-failing vein of wit and vivacity, he at once charmed and 
instructed. And he was ever ready himself to listen to others, and 
be instructed by them in turn, lie never carried the schoolmaster 
into the private walks of life, but entei-ed warmly and appreciatingly 
into the topics of the day, and imparted fresh interest to their discus- 
sion. So genial his disposition — so open-hearted and free from 
deceit — he was the very soul of honor and honesty in his dealings 
with others. He commanded their respect, and enjoyed their confi- 
dence, while he received their most devoted and heart-felt affection. 
In all my intercourse with him, I never knew him to give way to un- 
becoming anger, or to utter a judgment of others, that he would wish 
unsaid. He was deliberate in his words and acts to a remarkable 
degree. His temper, though warm, was under the most jterfect con- 
trol, even in the most trying circumstances. He was tolerant of the 
rehgious and political views of others, however much they might dif- 
fer from his own. While a firm believer himself in the liberal views 
of Christianity, he held in high esteem the members of all other 
denominations, and in return received their confidence and support. 
No man had a deeper respect for the Bible than he, or had more 
thoroughly read and studied its sacred pages. 

But I must close this brief sketch, hardly drawn perhaps with suf- 
ficient distinctness to mark the individuality of one with whom I took 
sweet counsel in the earlier part of my life, and the fragrance of whose 
memory has followed me along its subsequent pathway, and will 
continue with me to its end." 



APPENDIX 



Exlracls from "Review of the Mayor's Report." 



Printed, 1828. 



HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. 



The Report of Mr. Quincy recommending various improvements in our system 
consists of tliree parts,— as it relates to the High School for Girls, the Grammar 
and Writing Schools, and the Primary Schools,— each of which would afford mat- 
ter for copious remarks, perhaps for severe animadversion. It is no part of my 
plan, however, to examine his project, so far as it relates to what he calls, by way 
of emphasis, "the Common Schools." But having been appointed by the School 
Committee to conduct the experiment of the High Schoolfor Girls,— having devoted 
my time and strength and all my energies to this service for nearly two years,— and 
having been intimately acquainted with the whole history and progress of the in- 
stitution, I feel myself called upon to expose the fallacy of Mr. Quincy's arguments, 
by which he would satisfy the public that " the result of the experiment has been 
an entire failure :"— that such an institution is from its very nature "impracticable" 
in this city ! This renders it a solemn duty to disabuse the public by showing them 
the other side of the picture, and, moreover, many of those friends whose opinions 
I am most accustomed to respect, liave urged this duty upon me. For myself, I 
need not saj^, that I cara be influenced by no interested motive,— my present position 
being far more eligible than any which the School Committee have it in their power 
to bestow. If, therefore, I have any personal interest in the matter, it is that the 
High School for Girls should be discontinued. 

The subject requires that I " use great plainness of speech ;" but I would not 
willingly forget the respect due to one who "has done the State some service,"— 
more especially as I have no personal animosity towards Mr. Quincy. In this dis- 
cussion, he is regarded only as a public man, intrusted with important interests by 
his fellow citizens, and exerting an active and powerful influence upon the institu- 
tions of the city. The extent to which instruction should be carried at the public 
expense, is a q\iestion fairly open for discussion on general principles ; and one on 
which intelligent and patriotic men may very honestly entertain different opinions- 
Whether, in particular, it was expedient to institute the High School for Girls, — 
and whether, after it was instituted, it ought to have been sustained,— are questions 
worthy of a free investigation, but they ought to be met in a manly, open and in- 
genuous manner. It may not be expedient to support a High School for Girls,— 
but it is expedient that the citizens be correctly informed on the subject,— and it is 
not right that the institution should be put down by " indirection." I do not com- 
plain of Mr. Quincy that he has been adverse to that school, from the very day 
when it was first proposed,— he had an unquestionable right to be opposed to the 
"experiment;"— but I do complain of him because he has not been an open and 
generous enemy to it, — because he has not pursued a course worthy of the institu- 
tion, of himself, of the city over which he presides. 

The people of Boston have been accustomed almost to venerate their public 
schools, for they have regarded them as a rich inheritance bequeathed to them by 



86 

their ancestors. They have loved these institutions, for the influence the}"- have ex- 
erted on the minds and manners and hearts of their children ; and although they 
have never supposed their schools to be perfect, still they have been 'proud of them. 
They have paid liberally and with a wiUing hand for their support, and have felt 
them to be noble monuments of an enlightened policJ^ Nor has this feeling been 
confined to citizens of Boston alone. Their system of free schools has excited the 
admiration of intelligent strangers, not only from different parts of our own country 
but from Europe, and has been regarded as a model, well worthy of being attentively 
studied. It is not generally known except to their teachers, how often the public 
schools of this city are visited by persons from abroad, interested in the subject of 
education. While the High School for Girls was in operation, it was thus visited 
almost daily. It happened not unfrequently, that many gentlemen were present at 
the same time, who had come from different and from distant parts of the countrj^ 
for the single purpose of examining the methods of education pursued in this city. 
Among these were often to be seen tlie accredited agents of puljlic institutions from 
different cities. 

Knowing these things, it was with a feeling of mortification, — of astonishment, — 
that I read the Report of Mr. Quincy. I was not prepared to hear, from the Chair- 
man of the School Committee, that our whole system ofpublic education is radically 
wrong, — that we are vastly behind the age in this respect, — and that our schools 
are so essentially defective, that their present arrangements must be torn up, root 
and branch, to make way for a new organization. No one will deny that these 
schools have some defects which demand a remedy. But these are merely acciden- 
tal faults, which can be removed without destroying the integrity of the whole sys- 
tem, — a system which has been advancing towards perfection, under the fostering 
care and wisdom of successive generations ; and which, if it has not produced manj- 
Franklins, has at least rendered the population of Boston proverbial for their love 
of order, and their general intelligence. 

It is true the free schools of Boston are very liberally supported, and the people 
wish them to be so. They do not complain of the expense, for they want a good 
education for their children, not a cheap one. No doubt, they wish their rulers, by 
a prudent and economical course of policy, to husband well the resources of the 
city, and not squander them on extravagant schemes and doubtful speculations. I 
speak now of the great body of the people, upon whom the public burdens fall with 
the greatest weight ; for I am not ignorant there are some individuals who think 
too much money is expended for the schools. I have heard such an opinion avowed 
by more than one member of the City Government, — and by no one else. In that 
quarter it has been said, that the public schools should be merely eleemosynary 
establishments, where nothing but the lowest elements of learning should be doled 
out to the children of poverty ! The municipal officer who avows such a sentiment 
in this community, must be respected, at least, for his fairness and candor. From 
such a man, the friends of a liberal system of education have nothing to fear, fbr 
they always know where to find him. But it is from those who hold the same 
opinion, but have not the courage to avow it, — from those wlio would reduce the 
schools from their present rank by •' indirection," — that real danger is to bo appre- 
hended. And that this is the design of the present project of the Mayor, however 
it may be disguised and glossed over, is but too evident. He talks mucli indeed 
about "raising the standard of our common schools;" but how does he propose to 
do it? Why, simply by adding a splendid list of new stiulies. dismissing half the 



37 

present teachers, and making them hke the Monitorial Schools of New York ! Notliing 
could be easier. Did our wortiiy Mayor ever see those same Monitorial schools 
which he is holding up to our view as models ? or did he suppose no person in Bos- 
ton had ever seen them ? 

The history of Mr. Quincy's Report is understood to be as follows: After I had 
tendered to the School Committee my resignation as Master of the High School for 
Girls, a sub-committee was raised to take into consideration the expediency of 
continuing the school. This committee made a report early in the month of Decem- 
ber, which recommended that the school should be sustained. Upon the question 
of accepting this report, the committee were equally divided ; and Mr. Quincy 
shrunk from the performance of his official duty, as Chairman of the School Committee, 
and declined giving his casting vote ! This fact is worthy of being remembered. The 
fate of the school was then thrown wholly into his hands, — it hung on his individ- 
ual decision. By raising his finger he could have saved it, and he would not. Now 
that he was called upon to act openly and decidedly, he shrunk back. His cher- 
ished feelings of hostility to the school would not permit him to sustain it, and «/ 
that particular juncture, he might have found it inconvenient to incur the responsi- 
liility of putting it down ; for it was a popular institution, and during the month of 
Decemher, there was not a little excitement on the subject. It was finally moved 
to refer the rei^ort to the next School Committee. On this question, the members 
were again equally divided, and the Mayor gave his casting vote for postponement. 
Soon after the organization of the present Board, the subject was again referred to 
a sub-committee, of which Mr. Quincy was the Chairman; and the result of their 
laljors, — or rather of Ids labors, — will be found in the report now under considera- 
tion ; the real object of which is to discontinue the High School for Girls, and the 
incidental to " improve and elevate " the other schools. It has somehow hap- 
pened, however, that the accidental circumstance has given a name to the docu- 
ment, and that the Committee appointed to e.xamine into the expediency of contin- 
uing the High School for Girls, have reported oji anotlier and quite a different sub- 
ject! The explanation is, that while Mr. Quincy had neither forgotten this school, 
nor his settled determination to put it down, he could not venture upon this measure 
— ertn after lie had secured his election for another year — without informing the pub- 
lic that he was about to substitute something better in its place ; and hence brings 
into review our whole system of Public Schools. 

Grant that the High School for Girls was but an "experiment," it will not be de- 
nied that it was a very important one. It was i\\e first institution of the kind; and 
as such, not only excited a lively interest in our own community and country, but 
even in England, and on the Continent, the establishment of this school was honor- 
ably noticed in the public journals. It is higldy important, therefore, to the gen- 
eral interests of female education, that the true result of this "experiment" should 
be known. If it were indeed a " failure," — that is, if our own experience has made 
it certniu that it is either inexpedient or impracticable to extend to females a liberal 
course of education, — it should warn otliers not to make the attempt. But if the 
"faihu'o" proceeded from other causes, it should be exposed, that the great cause 
of female. education may suffer no detriment. 

Can an "experiment" be said to have " failed" in any correct sense of the term, 
when it has fully answered all the purposes for which it was instituted ? That this 
has been the fact with respect to the High School for Girls may be shown from the 
following abstract of tlie views and motives of the School Committee in undertaking 
the "experiment:" 



38 

1. On principles of general expediency, it was intended to make more liberal pro- 
visions for female education in the city, by famishing the girls a school, " similar to 
the High School for Boj^s, as an object of ambition and profitable employment for 
three years of life, now inadequately occupied." 

As to the success of the school so far as the prolicieney of the scholars should be 
taken into the account, it is not for me to express an opinion. This point is willingly 
left to the decision of the public. Even Mr. Quincy has graciously allowed that the 
" conduct of the school was very satisfictory both to the parents of the children 
and to the School Committee." And that "as an object of ambition," its influence 
was even greater than had been anticipated, is evident enough from the whole tenor 
of the Mayor's report. In these respects, therefore, the expectations of the School 
Committee were fully realized ; there was no failure here. 

2. The Committee thought " it would have a happy effect in qualifying females, to 
become instructors in our public schools." 

That it has had "this happy effect," is manifest from the fact that several of the 
young ladies, educated in the High School, are now engaged in teaching; while 
many others, thoroughly qualified for the business, would gladly 1)c thus em- 
ployed. Here, then, there was no " failure." 

3. The Committee supposed " it would put to test the usefulness of monitorial or 
mutual instruction, and the practicability of introducing it into our public schools." 

Mr. Quincy himself says "it c.Tectiuilly proved the advantage of tlie system of 
monitorial or mutual instruction;" and that it proved its " practicability " ma}' be 
safelj' inferred from the strenuous eftbrts he is now making to accomplisli that pur- 
pose. Surely, there was no " failure " here. 

To what, then, is the "failure of the experiment " to be attributed? In what did 
it consist ? The report states several circumstances, — all connected with the nec- 
essary accommodations for tlie school, — in wiiicli tlie projects of the committee seem 
to have fiiiled. 

In insti^iting a lligli Scliool for Girls, of course it was supposed that a house for 
its accommodation would Ijo eventually wanted ; though not absolutely necessar.y 
" the first year of its operation." For one j'ear, — one class, — an unoccupied story in 
the Bowdoin school-house would be sufficient. Wiio, for a moment, dreamed tliat 
the incapacity of that one room to accommodate tlie three annual classes would be 
construed into a fliilure of the project ? Yet such has been the case. And more, 
when the sub-committee of the High School for Girls made tlieir report in August, 
1826, and stated that "so flir the experiment had succeeded, beyond tlie most san- 
guine exiDCctations of those who had first proposed it;" that "the interest of the 
pupils had been so much excited, the attendance so constant, and the desire of re- 
maining in the school so great, as often to lead to a great personal sacrifice of ease 
and pleasure, rather than forego its benefits;" that "the school had so firmly es- 
tablished itself in the confidence and affections of the citizens, as to encourage them 
to ask for an appropriation for its continued support and permanent accommoda- 
tion ;" — Mr. Quincy, tlie Chairman of tlie Committee to whom this report was re- 
ferred, delayed making a report till the Ocfoher following. And although the exig- 
encies of the school were pressing, he postponed, in that report, making any pro- 
visions for the school, until the result of the next examination of candidates tor ad- 
mission, should be known ! leaving the question of a room to accommodate tlie 
scholars to be settled after they were ready to occupy it ! 

In the same month, Mr. Quincy addressed -a circular to tlie Masters of the Gram- 
mar Schools, from which the following extracts are made : 



30 

"Suggestious liaviug been made that the ctlbcL of the High 8ehool tor Gh-ls is 
disadvantageous upon the character and prospects of tlie otlier schools in tliis nie- 
tropohs : 

1. By dimiuishiug the zeal of the generality of the other females in tliese sclwols. 

2. By taking away their most exemplary scholars. 

3. By disqualifying the masters from a gradual introduction into these schools of 
tiie monitorial system, by thus removing from them the class of females Ix-st qual- 
ihed to become monitors. 

•1. By reducing the other schools from the highest to a secoudaiy gradr. by eai-ly 
depriving them of those scholars in whom tliey have the greatest pride, and who are 
of the highest promise. 

I am tlierefore directed to inquire whether there is any ibuudation for tliese sug- 
gestions, and what effect has been produced by the High School for Girls on the 
character and prospects of your school." Josuii Quincy, 

Chairimm School Committee. 

No one can mistake the object of this most I'cmarkable circular. First, '' sugges- 
tions " are made to the masters, that the effect of the High School has been " disad- 
vantageous " to the schools under their immediate care! By whom had these 
suggestions been made ? Who was the author of them? "Why was not the same 
alarm sounded with respect to the Latin and l-'nglish High Schools whicli nnist 
have produced the same effect ? I must acknowledge myself ignorant on what 
prniciple of human nature "the zeal of the best scholars would be diminisJied " by 
the prospect of an admission to the High School as a reward for their exertions ! 
Finally the masters are reminded — all in sheer good-nature and simplicity of pur- 
pose, no doubt — that their schools were reduced to a " secondary grade," and that 
(heir most ''exemplary scholars " were taken away! For what other class of 
scholars was the High School instituted? If it had not taken them away, it sliould 
indeed have been regarded, and justly, as a " failure." 

The inference from this artful series of leading questions is irresistible, that it was 
Mr. Quincy's object to draw from the masters such a strong and united expression 
of opinions unfavorable to the High School for Girls as should seal its fate. He 
would thus accomplish his purpose; while upon them would fall the odium and re- 
sponsibility of the act. I am well aware that, here and elsewhere, it is my misfor- 
tune to represent the character of Mr. Qnincy, as a plain, frank, high-minded mag- 
istrate, in a questionable attitude, to use no stronger language. But for this I am 
not answerable. The facts are not of my making, they are on record. If the infer- 
ences are unjust or unwarranted, the opinion of an humble individual like myself 
will not give them currency. 

But if ifr. Quincy wrote with these views, he mistook his men. With t!ie ex- 
ception of two or three, who responded as he probably wished and expected, tlie 
testimony for the teachers was, for the most part, in favo)- of the High School for 
Girls. However, Mr. Qnincy proceeded to draw up a report, stating the " disad- 
vantageous effects " of that institution on the other schools, and alluding to the mel- 
ancliolij and unexpected fact, tliat another class would demand admission in a few 
days ! — whereat the reporter seems not a little puzzled, — as he cannot readily con- 
trive how to bestow 130 girls in 130 seats already occupied! However, he is not 
yet " prepared to recommend that the High School should be abandoned, consider- 
ing its apparent past success, and the general satisfaction of those who have enjoyed 
its benefits. He then goes on to recommend instead certain measures, which 
he now declares to have changed every one of the original features of the plan. 
He laments that, " instead of a High School, as originally projected for the admis- 
sion of girls between eleven and fifteen years of age, none were to be admitted nn- 



40 

111 they were fourteen ; that instead of remaiuiug three years, the course of instruc- 
tion was limited to one year." "Was the High School really instituted for the csjDec- 
ial benefit of girls of eleven years of age, as the Mayor intimates Avhen he speaks of 
the exclusion of "girls of eleven years of age, which was one of the x>rominent ob- 
jects of its institution;" or has he seized upon an accidental circumstance, of little 
account or importance in itself, that one more item may be added to his list of "fail- 
ures ?" The original regulation, which required that a candidate should be of a 
specific age to entitle her to admission, was little better than absurd, and this vote 
made the matter worse. No limit of age should ever have been fixed, under wliich 
a girl might not be a candidate for admission. No restriction should have Ijeen pre- 
scribed excepting that of scholarship. To exclude a girl from admission to the 
schools in this city, where she would be daily subject to the care and control of her 
parents, simply because she is too 3'oung, is to inflict a penalty on industry and tal- 
ents. I know not on what principle the rule in question can be defended, unless it 
be the true policy to deter children from making a rapid advancement in knowl- 
edge. Abolish this arbitrary rule, — let scholarship alone be required for admission 
into the higher schools, — and their influence would be more strongly felt in every 
part of the system. 

It may be remarked that Mr. Quincy's apprehensions relative to the expense of 
maintaining a High Sohool are quite groundless. In another community, it might 
be an effectual way to bring a valuable literary institution into disrepute by mag- 
nifying its expense ; not so here. Besides, the grand mistake in all the Mayor's 
estimates, that " two High School-houses would be necessary the first year," lies 
in taking it for granted that every girl who makes application is entitled to admis- 
sion into the High School. Nothing is more certain than that the School Committee 
might confine the operations of the High School for Girls to a single house for all 
coming time; — by keeping the standard of qualifications sufficiently high. " But," 
says Mr. Quincj', " in proportion as the qualifications for admission are raised, the 
school becomes exclusive, and though nominally open to all, is in fact open to the 
few." This is an idea upon which he evidently dwells with great complacency. 
That school must indeed have a strong hold upon the jiublic confidence, which does 
not become odious and unpopular, when the Chairman of the School Committee, 
in his official capacity, openly proclaims the ^\favoritis7n" and "■ selection" and "e.r- 
clusion" of the principles upon wdiich it is based. Ought such epithets as those to 
be applied to the High School, because it was not designed that all the girls in Bos- 
ton should acquire all their education in it? Is there either "selection," or " exclu- 
sion," or favoritism," in furnishing to every girl in the city exactly that kind and 
degree of instruction which she most needs? Mr. Quincy himself, in a communi- 
cation made to the School Connnittee in 1826, recommending that a thoroufjh knowl- 
edge of all the studies taught in the Grammar and "Writing Schools should be re. 
quired for admission to the High School, says, " by an adherence to this system, it 
cannot be doubted that the High School will, in one or two year-s, become, ivhat it 
07njM to he, a school for the instruction in those parts of science to which the com- 
mon schools are /ro;rt their constitutions inadequate, and for rvliich tliey were not in- 
tended. 

Now in the face of all these facts and many others like them, some of which will 
be given, and all of which shall if necessary, — after all of these contrivances by 
which the " failure " of the High School was compassed, " ci quorimi pars magna 
fui," Mr. Quincy may well say, — he next proceeds to talk about the "perfect foir- 



T^ 



41 

ness with which the experiineiit was conducted!" "ibr tlio most part under the 
same auspices wliicli first adopted it!" TJie " changes " of wliich lie speaks, liave 
been proposed nuder the particuhu- "auspices" of Mr. Quiucy himself, and have 
been effected by his influence, authority and management, — yes, management ; for 
he has iu every instance when a committee was to be raised on the subject of the 
High School, either assumed the ofiQce of Chairman himself or appointed as Chair- 
man some one supposed to be hostile to the institution. If thero be any exception 
to this remark, it has not come to my knowledge, familiar as I am with the history 
of the school. At any rate the assertion is confidently and fearlessly made. If in- 
justice is done, it can easily be shown, and it will give mo pleasure to be convinced 
of my error. 

As an example of the " perfect fairness " with which " the experiment was con- 
ducted," I will cite the course taken by the Mayor in regard to changing the hours 
of attendance at the High School. At the re([uest of one hundred and seven of 
the parents of my scholars, I addresed a communication to the School Committee 
requesting that the school might have but one session, from S A. M. to 2 P. M., 
and giving a minute account of the reasons which led such an alteration of hours to 
be desirable. As soon as my letter had been read at the Board, Mr. Quincy has- 
tily forestalled the remarks of other gentlemen, by expressing his decided disappro- 
bation of "my very extraordinary proposition," as he was pleased to call it. One 
other member of the Committee was equally opposed to the change, and two others 
were doubtful as to its expediency; it was therefore determined to refer the subject 
to a special committee. Was it, as both usage and decorum required, referred to the 
sub-committee of the school ? By no means ; for they were in favor of the change, be- 
ing well acquainted with the reasons for it. Mr. Quincy nominated a select com- 
mittee for the i^urpose, consisting of those three gentlemen tuho ivere not friendly to the 
measure proposed ! Two of them, however, became satisfied that the change was nec- 
essary, and reported accordingly ; and the vote of the committee was nearly unani- 
mous for accepting the report. 

It has also been intimated that the High School was neglected, by these mem- 
bers of the committee, whose duty it was to watch over its interests and concerns. 
During the last year, it was not honored by a single visit from the sub-committee. 
The Chairman, Mr. Welsh, was in the room but twice, once when he introduced 
some members of the Legislature, and again when he came to witness the ''Farce !" 
as he courteously termed the late exhibition. This speech came with peculiar pro- 
priety from the Chairman of the Conimitttee of the High School, and was the only 
one delivered on the occasion ! If the " experiment " were an " entire failure," why 
was not that fact announced at the closing scene, when the attentive and crowded 
assembly, — numerous beyond all precedent in this city on a similar occasion, could 
have borne testimony to the wisdom and correctness of the decision ? Again, when 
Mr. Quincy wrote to the masters of all the other public schools, demanding of them 
how many times they had been visited hy their respective sub-committees, was it 
merely accidental that he omitted the master of the High School? I pause for a 
reply. 

I will give one more instance of iieglect. When the High School was instituted, 
the text-books for the first year only were determined. The higher classes having 
studied and reviewed all these, became impatient to commence the next studies in 
order. All verbal applications having proved of no avail, a letter was addressed 
to Mr. Quincy, urging iu strong terms the necessity of immediate attention to this 



42 • 

subject. Alter pressing |^m\"jX'quc\st, and waiting in vain lor a long time, I took 
upon myself the responsibility of introducing such text-books as seemed best adap- 
ted to the course of studies marked out ; otherwise the girls in the High School 
would not have had a single book to study during the whole of the last year! The 
extent of this responsibility may be learned from the fact, that any teacher who 
violates any of the regulations of the School Committee, shall immediately be dis- 
missed ; and these regulations jirovide that the books used in the public schools 
shall be " such and sucJi only as shall have met the approbation of their respective 
sub-committees." 

While the visits of the committee were "few and far between," the only written 
communication from the board witli which - 1 was honored for more than a year, 
was a letter from the Mayor, reprimanding me "in good set terms," because the 
young ladies, of their own free will and motion, had agreed among themselves to 
wear black sillc aprons at the exhibition ! And many of the communications which 
I made to the board from time to time, were so far honored as to be transferred to 
the hands of Mr. Welsh, and nothing more was done in the matter! The teachers 
of large public schools meet with so many^ daily trials and vexations, that they 
may feelingly say, " sufierance is the badge of all our tribe ;"^but when to these is 
added the marked hostility or contemptuous neglect of their employers, their duties 
become too irksome to be endured, unless they are either more or less than men. 

While our worthy Mayor was making an array of instances in which the " origi- 
nal intention" of the Committee, in respect to the^High School for girls "had 
failed," he might have added one case of real " failure " of some importance to the 
master at least. He might have said that the board " failed " to pay the salary 
which had been \-irtually promised, and which I had a right to expect. In estab- 
lishing the High School, the intention of the Committee was distinctly expressed, 
that the master should be placed "in respect to salary upon a level with Hhe mas- 
ters of the Latin and English High Schools," who, it is well known, receive $2,000 
a year. And when I became a candidate for the situation, it was with this under- 
standing. It was suggested, however, that it would be safer to legin with a smaller 
salary, since, if the school were successful, it might easily be increased, and with 
these expectations, I was satisfied to accept the office with a salary of $1,500. 

I am unwilling to speak of my services in the High School, yet may simply refer 
to their amount not to their value. The masters of the Latin and English High 
Schools have each under their immediate care from thirty to forty scholars ; and 
each of them has several ushers to assist in the general superintendence of the 
school. I had under my sole care more than one hundred and thirty scholars, and 
in all circumstances was obliged to depend on my individual resources. Shall I be 
told that I had the assistance of scholars ? So may every master have. But if 
the school had been badly conducted, Avould the scholars have been held responsi- 
ble? I hare no faith in the system which delegates the authorilij of the master to 
mere children, and substitutes the instruction'and discipline of monitors for Jiis per- 
sonal services. 

After the school had been fairly established, when the time for fixing the annual 
salaries approached, I requested the Committee to place mine on the basis origi- 
nally proposed. I thought the request would be granted almost of course, but 
after a mature dehberation of several months, my letter was returned, with a very 
laconic endorsement upon it, that the request would not be granted ! No reason 
was given for this very flattering and satisfactory decision. Indeed, I have never 



yet heard any reason assigned wliy the master of the Il.igh School for girls slioiild 
be paid one quarter less or any less salary than is paid to the principals of tlie Latin 
and English High Schools. His services should have l)ccn as valuable, his attain- 
ments as excellent and varied as theirs. The school undeniably deserved as good a 
master as any in the city, and if the incumbent was not competent, it was a mis- 
fortune that might have easily been remedied. 

But one course now remained for me — to send in my resignation^ which I ac- 
cordingly did in November, 1827. But I would beg leave to ask what would have 
constituted a smcccss/mZ "experiment" according to Mr. Quincy's ideas upon tlie 
subject? If the school had excited but little public interest — if few parents had 
wished to send their daughters there — if the mode of government and instruction 
had been unpopular — in a word, if its members, from any cause, had been so few 
that a single room would have furnished the necessary accommodations for the 
three annual classes, he would have regarded the experiment as completely success- 
ful! Should any one think this a distorted picture of Mr. Quincy's sentiments, I 
beg him to read his report and judge for himself. But as the school happened to 
be the reverse of all this, as the public voice was loud and emphatic in its favor, 
as the strongest testimony possible was heard from almost every class in tlie com- 
munity that such a school was wanted and demanded, the "experiment" is de- 
nounced as "an entire failure," and the institution is to be annihilated, "as liodies 
perish through excess of blood!" 

In concluding this review, I would again repeat that I was not moved to under- 
take it, either by personal interest or private feeling. It will readily be conceived 
tliat this opposition to the High School for girls manifested by some of the most 
influential members of the School Committee on all occasions, must have been a 
deep source of mortification and regret to a man whose hopes were all centred in 
its success, and who labored, regardless of fatigue and health and the pleasures of 
society, to satisfy the wishes and expectations of its friends so far as his limited 
abihties would permit. The /«c^ of Mr. Quincy's hostility to the school is mani- 
fest, and his unfavorable account of the "experiment " will l)e respected accord- 
ingh'. The integrity of his motives has not been questioned. Doubtless they have 
been pure and conscientious; a difference in opinion is no proof of dishonesty. 
But while it is granted that his opposition to the school may have been founded in 
a sincere belief that the interests of the city do not require such an institution, 
it cannot be denied, that in his zeal to put it down, he has suffered himself to pur- 
sue a course of measures which we should not have expected from an intelligent 
and liigh-minded magistrate. 

BosTOX. 182S. EBENEZKR BAILEY. 



BARNARD'S EDUCATIONAL BIOGRAPHY. 

Educational Biography ; or ^Icnioirs of Tcaclicrs, Educators, and Pro 
moters and Benefactors of Education, Literature, and Science. By Henry 
Barnard, LL.D. Part T. Teachers and Educators. Vol. I., United 
States. New York: F. C. Brownell. 

Price, $3.50, in half Turkish Morocco. 



Contents of Volu.me I. 

Page. 

Introduction — Educntional Biogrnpliy, 11 

EzEKiKL Cheevkr, and llie Early Free Scliouls of New England, 13 

Samuel Johnson, 43 

Caleb Bingham, 53 

Timothy Dvvight, 78 

Thomas II. Gallaudkt, fVlth Portrait, 97 

Denison Olmsted, With Portrait, 119 

Mrs. Emma VVillard, JVith Portrait, 125 

Samuel Read Hall, 169 

James G. Carter, With Portrait, 182 

Warren CoLBURN, With Portrait, 195 

Gideon F. Thayer, With Portrait, 218 

William Russell, With Portrait, 227 

Harvey P. Peet With Portrait, 232 

William A. Alcott, IVilh Portrait 249 

William C. Woodbridge,. . With Portrait, 268 

Walter R. Johnson, With Portrait, 281 

Wilbur Fisk With Portrait, 297 

John Kingsbury, With Portrait, 311 

Lowell Mason, With Portrait, 326 

George B. Emerson, With Portrait, 333 

Calvin E. Stowe, With Portrait, 344 

Samuel Lewis, With Portrait, 351 

Horace Mann, With Portrait, 36.'i 

Cyrus P eirce, JVith Portrait, 405 

Nicholas Tillinghast, IVith Portrait, 439 

Francis Dvvight, IVith Portrait, 4.57 

David Perkins Page, With Portrait, 465 

William F. Phelps, With Portrait, 473 

John S. Hart, With Portrait, 48J 

Frederick A. P. Barnard, . . With Portrait, 497 

We are glad to see that Dr. Barnard has consented to let his puljlishers bring 
together into one volume, the memoirs of eminent American Teachers anil 
Kducators which have appeared in the first series of the American Jnurnal of 
Education. Richly bound, and illustrated with over twenty Portraits, from en- 
gravings on steel or copper by our best artist.s, it is the most creditable tribute 
which has yet been jjaid in English Literature to the scholastic profession. It 
forms a splendid and appropriate gift-book to Teachers, and Promoters of VWu- 
cational Improvement. — Connecticut Common School Journal, for Fchrxiary, 1S59. 

This elegant and useful contribution to educational literature will, Ave trust, 
receive a cordial welcome from teachers. Nothing ever issued from the i^ress 
could be a more appropriate ornament for the tencher's library or center- 
table. — Massachusetts Teacher, for Fchruary, 1859. 



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